Swimming apparatus.



P. LBNTZ.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1910.

1,027,741 Patented May 28, 1912. v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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P. LBNTZ.

- SWIMMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILBD AUG. 4, 1910. I 1,027,741 Patented May 28, 1912.

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PHILIP? LENTZ, or enoss-nrcnrnnrnnnn, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented May 28,1912.

Application filed August 4, 1910. Serial No. 575,531.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIPP Lnn'rz, a private gentleman, subject of the German Emperor, and residing at 34 Sternstrasse, Gross-Lichterfelde, near Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swimming Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a swimming apparatus which consists of a float for supporting the body of the swimmer.

This swimming appliance forms a swimming apparatus which may serve a triple purpose: firstly as means of self-instruction in swimming, secondly as a sporting apparatus, thirdly as a life saving appliance in danger on sea.

The novel feature of the invention consists firstly in the fact that a strap provided with boat-like buoyant bodies at both ends, and having a saddlelike shape adapted to receive the body of the user is employed, on to which the swimmer mounts astride, and which will give such swimmer the proper position for swimming, hold him both face downward or on his back in such position, and allow of his using his arms and legs in an unimpeded manner, so that he may apply his entire muscular power toward his propulsion, while strap and buoys produce the necessary buoyancy, without the swimmer having to expend for such purpose any control or power. The strap together with the buoys floats like a boat on the water and the swimmer enters into the same as if into a boat, only that he does not sit down in it but straddles it. For propelling a boat cars are required. But such saddle buoy cannot be propelled by oars, as both buoy and body of the rider are too deeply immerged in the water.

In the accompanying drawing the invention is exemplified.

Figure 1 is the saddle buoy, on which the swimmer rests in the proper swimming attitude, in side view; Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows in a diagrammatical manner the use of the saddle buoy.

The strap 1 which is mounted by the swimmer, is curved downward and may be made of wood, may be pressed hollow of a light metal or be constructed of any other suitable material. On said strap is arranged a breast plate 2, made of the same material, which serves as a support and bearing for the upper part of the body of the swimmer. For increasing the steadi ness, that is for avoiding all tilting and swamping of the apparatus even with very heavy seas, and for keeping the head of the swimmer always above water, a keel 3 is longitudinally arranged below from front to after buoy, the lower straight edge of which, lying in a horizontal direction to the surface of the water is formed in shape of a closable tube 4, which may be loaded by inserting a thicker or thin stick of lead 5.

The hollow bodies 6, 7 fitted to the ends of the strap may be made of sheet metal, wood, cork or other light material.

The life saving apparatus, as made for saving the ship wrecks, has in the front buoy a recess into which a tin 8 containing provisions in concentrated form can be placed ir an easily removable manner, so that the shipwrecked may have some means of nourishment; such tin may be further provided with a compass in the lid, which has a dial phosphorescent at night time.

In order to render it more easy to find the shipwrecked at night time and to draw the attention of ships passing him, a lamp 9 isprovided on the after buoy. This lamp may be an electric one and the cell for feeding the same may be disposed within the buoy or beneath the same at the end of the strap.

With cork vests, swimming belts, swimming bags and similar life saving or swimming appliances the body does not assume a horizontal or approximately horizontal position in the water, but is suspended almost vertically in the water, so that the propulsion is much impeded, contrary to the present invention, and even may be altogether impossible.

With the swimming apparatus as means of instruction, in which case all the attachments, compass, lamp, even the loaded keel, which makes the apparatus a life saving appliance may be dispensed with, a nonswimmer may learn to swim by himself within a short time, as soon as he has received some instructions on the movements he has to make by one who already knows how to swim. Also the life saving stations for shipwrecks will receive with this new apparatus a valuable aid. A strong man strapped to the saddle buoy will in many instances, where it is impossible to reach the stranded vessel with a boat, be able to get through the surf and to the vessel, and form a communication by taking with him a line, or save single persons drifting about on the waves and float them ashore or to the vessel, if the apparatus is provided with sufiiciently strong buoys for such purpose.

I claim:

1. A swimming apparatus consisting of a concavely curved saddle-like straphaving upwardly extending end portions, and buoys secured to the said end portions, said buoys being adapted to float upon the surface of the water, whereby the strap will be submerged.

2. A swimming apparatus consisting of a concavely curved saddle-like strap having upwardly extending end portions, a heel secured to the underside of said strap, and buoys secured to the said end portions, said buoys being adapted to float upon the surface of the water, whereby the strap will be submerged.

3. A swimming apparatus consisting of a downwardly extending saddle-like strap curved to conform to the position of a person swimming, and buoys secured to the ends of said strap and adapted to float upon the surface of the water, whereby the strap will be submerged.

4:. A swimming apparatus consisting of a downwardly extending saddle-like strap curved to conform to the position of the person swimming, a breast plate carried thereby to support the upper part of the body of the swimmer, and buoys secured to the ends of said strap and adapted to float upon the surface of the water, whereby the strap will be submerged.

In testimony whereof I herewith aflix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIPP LENTZ.

\Vitnesses KARL Scnrrnnn, A. SCHMIDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing 'the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

